Three days ago, Johnson Charles scored his first international hundred but couldn't stop an Australian victory. This time, a brisk Charles half-century was enough to set West Indies on the way to their first win over Australia in Australia in any format for 16 years, as they showed why they are the reigning Twenty20 world champions. Australia might have swept the ODIs 5-0, but West Indies will at least fly home on a happier note.

They had not beaten Australia in this country since the Perth Test in February 1997. The only man from that contest involved in this drought-breaking match was Paul Reiffel, then a fast bowler, now an umpire. It didn't worry West Indies that Australia fielded one of the least experienced sides they have employed in many years. In international cricket, a win is a win, and this win brought relief for a group of men who have been disappointed with their own efforts over the past two weeks.

Charles set up the victory but Kieron Pollard was Man of the Match, for his quick 26 with the bat and 3 for 30 with the ball. In an enormous chase of 192, the Australians relied on Adam Voges with a half-century and then held out slim hopes while Brad Haddin was at the crease, but when Pollard got rid of Haddin and the debutant Ben Rohrer, the last remaining specialist batsman, as well as the dangerous James Faulkner, it was all but over.

Australia then needed 51 from three overs with only the bowlers at the crease. Not surprisingly, they didn't get close, losing by 27 runs as Sunil Narine, Pollard and Tino Best proved difficult to get away. Narine collected 2 for 19 from his four overs and was the key man with the ball for West Indies. None of Australia's batsman seemed comfortable against him and he did not concede a boundary, while also having George Bailey caught sweeping for 15.

Things hadn't started well for Australia in their chase when Aaron Finch played on to Darren Sammy for 4. Shaun Marsh (19) and Voges then put on a 74-run stand that could have put Australia in a position to push for victory, but both men were run-out within four balls of each other, costing Australia valuable momentum. Voges, who made 51 from 33 balls, had looked especially threatening and carried on the form from his maiden international hundred on Sunday.

The same could be said of Charles, who justified Sammy's decision to bat first. With the exception of the impressive James Faulkner, an inexperienced Australia attack struggled to contain the world champions, who also had useful contributions from Darren Bravo, Pollard and Darren Sammy.

Early in the innings West Indies lost Chris Gayle, who was passed fit having missed the final two one-day internationals with a side injury. On 8, Gayle miscued a pull off the debutant Josh Hazlewood and was brilliantly caught by another man in his first international, Nathan Coulter-Nile, who ran back from mid-on and claimed the catch above his head despite having to twist and turn to keep the ball in his sights.

But it was Gayle's opening partner Charles who set the tone, turning the ball behind square regularly to keep the runs ticking over and swinging hard when he had the opportunity. Charles struck seven fours and one six, a whip over midwicket off Coulter-Nile, and he brought up his half-century from 31 balls before falling for 57 from 35 when he played on off a Coulter-Nile slower delivery.

However, the 88-run partnership between he and Darren Bravo had set West Indies up well. Bravo was less adventurous and scored 32 from 27 balls before he was the victim of a terrible mix-up with Kieron Pollard when both men ended up at the same end. Pollard managed two fours and one six but he wasn't able to hang around until the end, caught at long-on off Faulkner for 26.

Faulkner was comfortably the best of Australia's bowlers, collecting 3 for 28 from his four overs, and it was only a couple of monstrous sixes clubbed by Sammy in the 19th over that prevented Faulkner's figures being even better. He stopped Sammy (20 off seven balls) doing further damage by having him caught at deep midwicket, having started his wicket-taking earlier by bowling Dwayne Bravo for 13.

Andre Russell, who hit a late 23 from 11 balls, and Narsingh Deonarine (6 not out) pushed the total into extremely worrying territory for the Australians; only four times in 302 Twenty20 internationals ever played had the team batting second chased down more to win. And at the end of the night, it had still happened only four times.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here

First up, well done WIndies (men & women) - LOL! The men's team thoroughly deserved their win as they had the better VARIETY in the bowling line up. I am not a fan of bailey's place in the T20 team, but I will not bag him for this loss, his hands were tied. Interestingly - Faulkner's left hand variety was the most succesful in the match for Oz. I WONDER what an actual spinner would of achieved? Even DHussey batting @ #7 would of been some sort of an option for Bailey, (assuming Voges's injury prevented him bowling a ball). The things that annoy me about T20 was evident in this game. I was happy Charles is developing some status in the WIndies team, but that was one of the luckiest 50s I have ever seen. The WIndies could of been 5/70 after 10 overs, but they made the most of their opportunities. Then there was S Marsh, came into the game with some form, but really he failed on what was supposed to be a good batting pitch - with a S/Rate below 110. Enough!

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 15:22 GMT

@Meety, I think wicket taking bowlers like Hazlewood, Cutting, McKay, Pattinson, Starc etc are suitable only for tests as the red ball shine does not wane soon. White ball losers the shine fast making it easy to score runs against them. Australia must find run stopping like bowlers to succeed in T20s. Kulasekara and Mathews we have are run stoppers and not wicket takers. They help a lot in the shorter formats. Hogg was right. We had the worse test bowling attack which visited Australia, but our ODI bowling attack was great. Haha may be Gabba is not too friendly for the Aussies lately. Rain stopped them from winning the test match against SA. Then all out for 74 against SL. Now losing to Windies in the T20. Yes I know Aussies have not lost at the Gabba in test match since 1988 or so. Also, it was at the Gabba that the Aussies were last put to follow on in a test match at home back in 1986-87 Ashes.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 15:16 GMT

@Meety, well White has failed too much I think so I would not play him. Australia seem to lose T20s more than ideal by their standards IMO.

I think with T20s, ODIs will have to be culled off as they are losing the meaning. Have tests to keep the tradition and purity and T20 in a way where bowlers can dominate too. I would like T20 pitches to be those where even 100 to 110 can be defended as well.

POSTED BY
crashed
on | February 15, 2013, 6:26 GMT

Good win to the WI You can only play the team on the field no matter who is playing or left out. Australia might be in a build up state but that means they will loose some matches and yes even series

POSTED BY
Meety
on | February 15, 2013, 5:19 GMT

@Sinhaya on (February 15, 2013, 0:53 GMT) - it was a good innings, but I think he is better suited to ODIs & Tests. I'd rather Cameron White or Brad Haddin captain the side, IMO they are better captains & are probably at this stage in their careers better suited to T20s. I wouldn't say that we don't take it seriously, but when you pick a side with pace bowlers (even at the Gabba), you have to ask yourself "Where is the common sense". The individual players selected were all good, Coulter-Nile & Cutting & Hazlewood are all potentially brilliant International bowlers, but adding McKay, we had 4 fairly similar pacers + Faulkner! As I said, I don't blame Bailey for the loss, he didn't have much in the way of variety.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 15, 2013, 2:15 GMT

Front-Foot-Lunge; The Aussies losing by 20 runs to hte World Champion with there entire test squad in India surely isnt as worrying as England losing by 90 runs to New Zealand with there entire squad available. im not too concerned about Australias depth.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 0:53 GMT

@Meety, well dont you think that Bailey's knock in the world T20 semis against Windies was great?? If Windies were not allowed to score 27 runs in the last over of that match off Doherty, Bailey would have helped Aussies win it! Mark my words! Anyway, since Aussies have lost their past 5 T20 games in a row, it shows that Aussies dont take T20 seriously I guess.

Windies no doubt played well in the ODIs barring the first one. They just could not capitalize on moments they dominated. Voges no doubt played brilliantly but not sure how long he can last cos he is 30 plus already.

One more thing I want to say. Doherty deserves another chance at test level in this tour of India. Should he fail there, his test career is over.

POSTED BY
xylo
on | February 14, 2013, 23:38 GMT

It is only fitting that the only win came in a T20 game.

POSTED BY
Guyanese2Dbone
on | February 14, 2013, 22:48 GMT

It's plain to see that WI team is a T20 team because that's the only game they are capable of winning. I must say that Gibson plan of creating the perfect world cup team is progressing great. I am sure it will be ready for 2030. I still can't see any reason why Shiv Chanderpaul isn't in the ODI team especially when he is churning out runs in "T20 LEAGUES" of all things. Is this the way that they are presevring him for the test series that he should be rescuing for WI.

POSTED BY
rayinto
on | February 14, 2013, 21:31 GMT

Must be nice to beat the mighty Aussies twice in one day!

POSTED BY
Meety
on | February 13, 2013, 23:09 GMT

First up, well done WIndies (men & women) - LOL! The men's team thoroughly deserved their win as they had the better VARIETY in the bowling line up. I am not a fan of bailey's place in the T20 team, but I will not bag him for this loss, his hands were tied. Interestingly - Faulkner's left hand variety was the most succesful in the match for Oz. I WONDER what an actual spinner would of achieved? Even DHussey batting @ #7 would of been some sort of an option for Bailey, (assuming Voges's injury prevented him bowling a ball). The things that annoy me about T20 was evident in this game. I was happy Charles is developing some status in the WIndies team, but that was one of the luckiest 50s I have ever seen. The WIndies could of been 5/70 after 10 overs, but they made the most of their opportunities. Then there was S Marsh, came into the game with some form, but really he failed on what was supposed to be a good batting pitch - with a S/Rate below 110. Enough!

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 15:22 GMT

@Meety, I think wicket taking bowlers like Hazlewood, Cutting, McKay, Pattinson, Starc etc are suitable only for tests as the red ball shine does not wane soon. White ball losers the shine fast making it easy to score runs against them. Australia must find run stopping like bowlers to succeed in T20s. Kulasekara and Mathews we have are run stoppers and not wicket takers. They help a lot in the shorter formats. Hogg was right. We had the worse test bowling attack which visited Australia, but our ODI bowling attack was great. Haha may be Gabba is not too friendly for the Aussies lately. Rain stopped them from winning the test match against SA. Then all out for 74 against SL. Now losing to Windies in the T20. Yes I know Aussies have not lost at the Gabba in test match since 1988 or so. Also, it was at the Gabba that the Aussies were last put to follow on in a test match at home back in 1986-87 Ashes.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 15:16 GMT

@Meety, well White has failed too much I think so I would not play him. Australia seem to lose T20s more than ideal by their standards IMO.

I think with T20s, ODIs will have to be culled off as they are losing the meaning. Have tests to keep the tradition and purity and T20 in a way where bowlers can dominate too. I would like T20 pitches to be those where even 100 to 110 can be defended as well.

POSTED BY
crashed
on | February 15, 2013, 6:26 GMT

Good win to the WI You can only play the team on the field no matter who is playing or left out. Australia might be in a build up state but that means they will loose some matches and yes even series

POSTED BY
Meety
on | February 15, 2013, 5:19 GMT

@Sinhaya on (February 15, 2013, 0:53 GMT) - it was a good innings, but I think he is better suited to ODIs & Tests. I'd rather Cameron White or Brad Haddin captain the side, IMO they are better captains & are probably at this stage in their careers better suited to T20s. I wouldn't say that we don't take it seriously, but when you pick a side with pace bowlers (even at the Gabba), you have to ask yourself "Where is the common sense". The individual players selected were all good, Coulter-Nile & Cutting & Hazlewood are all potentially brilliant International bowlers, but adding McKay, we had 4 fairly similar pacers + Faulkner! As I said, I don't blame Bailey for the loss, he didn't have much in the way of variety.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 15, 2013, 2:15 GMT

Front-Foot-Lunge; The Aussies losing by 20 runs to hte World Champion with there entire test squad in India surely isnt as worrying as England losing by 90 runs to New Zealand with there entire squad available. im not too concerned about Australias depth.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 15, 2013, 0:53 GMT

@Meety, well dont you think that Bailey's knock in the world T20 semis against Windies was great?? If Windies were not allowed to score 27 runs in the last over of that match off Doherty, Bailey would have helped Aussies win it! Mark my words! Anyway, since Aussies have lost their past 5 T20 games in a row, it shows that Aussies dont take T20 seriously I guess.

Windies no doubt played well in the ODIs barring the first one. They just could not capitalize on moments they dominated. Voges no doubt played brilliantly but not sure how long he can last cos he is 30 plus already.

One more thing I want to say. Doherty deserves another chance at test level in this tour of India. Should he fail there, his test career is over.

POSTED BY
xylo
on | February 14, 2013, 23:38 GMT

It is only fitting that the only win came in a T20 game.

POSTED BY
Guyanese2Dbone
on | February 14, 2013, 22:48 GMT

It's plain to see that WI team is a T20 team because that's the only game they are capable of winning. I must say that Gibson plan of creating the perfect world cup team is progressing great. I am sure it will be ready for 2030. I still can't see any reason why Shiv Chanderpaul isn't in the ODI team especially when he is churning out runs in "T20 LEAGUES" of all things. Is this the way that they are presevring him for the test series that he should be rescuing for WI.

POSTED BY
rayinto
on | February 14, 2013, 21:31 GMT

Must be nice to beat the mighty Aussies twice in one day!

POSTED BY
dabhand
on | February 14, 2013, 18:43 GMT

@RandyOz - but for some reason you think everyone else should be judged, especially England, by their performances in T20 and as for being the greatest test country of all time, well I guess by recent performances, you can only feel your team is on the slide you accuse so many others of being.

Teams can only play what is put in front of them, excuses like it's a 3rd string just don't cut it - they are the team chosen to represent their country - so just get over yourselves.

POSTED BY
Front-Foot-Lunge
on | February 14, 2013, 12:22 GMT

When Australia lose, the narrative is always "Ah, but we used to be good". When, on the odd occasion they win against a minnow team, it's like a New Year's party. Back they go to losing again then, and so the same rhetoric comes out. With no squad depth to talk about, a seamer in to do the spinners' role, and seam bowlers dropping like flies so close to a historic back-to-back Ashes series, things don't look too good for Australia.

POSTED BY
on | February 14, 2013, 11:18 GMT

The first win of any format in Australia for 16 years?...this is the point i was trying to make to other so-called Windies supporters who gladly jump on the Gibson/Sammy hate campaign. This has been on-going for well over a decade. I'm not saying that this is a turning point because it showed in the ODI series that our cricket still needs alot of work and improvement. T20s seem to suit our batsmen because making quickfire 20s is their forte, having the discipline and application to bat a long innings is in short supply. Chanders, Sarwan and Gayle know how to do it, but they haven't got that many years left between them and our best batsmen for the last year has been Marlon Samuels, who looks like adding some consistancy to that natural talent. There's too many part-time allrounders to balance a potent bowling attack, you can get away with that bowling 4 overs each in T20s, but we'd get exposed in ODIs and Test Matches, hence the poor run of results against the established countries.

POSTED BY
HatsforBats
on | February 14, 2013, 11:09 GMT

@Fernsby, that was a joke right? Whether you like it or not Australia are the most successful team of all time. Highest % of test wins (47%, WI 32%), & lowest % of draws/losses. Second highest % odi wins (SA 64%, Aus 64%, WI 54%). Most world cup wins. Most consecutive test/odi wins. If you ned to take comfort in decades past glory and some hit & giggle wins, by all means go ahead. WI are too focused on appearing cool and deciding what jewellery to wear to concentrate for long enough to be competitive in anything but T20.

POSTED BY
anver777
on | February 14, 2013, 10:15 GMT

Aus certainly can have a better team than the XI they played against WI.......
they could have included T20 specialists David Hussey & Christian or M.Hussey for yesterday's game... can't understand Aus's selection policy ????

POSTED BY
WILAD
on | February 14, 2013, 6:00 GMT

It wasn't a third string Australian side West Indies destroyed in the World T20 for sure.

POSTED BY
WILAD
on | February 14, 2013, 5:57 GMT

@RandyOz dominate test cricket for 16 years then come talk to me about being the most successful test cricketing nation.

POSTED BY
kriscricket
on | February 14, 2013, 5:49 GMT

@ typos: Westindies won the ODI where hooper and lara got hundreds. But that was in Jan and the test match was in Feb, which WI won by 10 wickets.

POSTED BY
typos
on | February 14, 2013, 4:37 GMT

I think there was an ODI game where both Lara and hooper got hundreds to win, chasing a big score in Australia that happened after '97.

POSTED BY
on | February 14, 2013, 3:41 GMT

Is there any batsmen like brain larain the team of west indies. co they are very poor in long format of game e.g test, odi. so they should focousedon defense instead of big hitter.

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | February 14, 2013, 3:37 GMT

@Ashlee Nishanth Lawrence on (February 13, 2013, 16:13 GMT), as it says in the story, this is the first time that WI have beaten Australia in Australia in 16 years. If you look outside Australia then you only have to look back to the last Australia tour of the Caribbean.

POSTED BY
Matth
on | February 14, 2013, 2:52 GMT

Voges' run out was the turning point. Surely Finch's season of chances is now over! A very inexperienced bowling line up and no spinner also hurt the Aussies. Still a very entertaining game and the current difference between the two sides is that the WI lower order sloggers (Russell and Sammy) are better than ours (Cutting and Coulter-Nile).

POSTED BY
on | February 14, 2013, 2:18 GMT

T20 is a long way from Test Cricket. I don't think any current west Indian would get into a side with the likes of Holding, Marshall, Roberts, Richards and Greenidge. I do hope that players with such raw talent like Charles, Pollard, Darren Bravo know how to play long innings, otherwise most of the test nations will continue to wipe the floor with them. If most of the batsmen come out and make quick fire 25s and then get out in test cricket, then West Indies will continue to struggle to make big scores. Yes, Chanderpaul knows how to do that, but he is a veteren and you can't rely on one batsman. If West Indies are getting big headed about being T20 champions, they have a long way to go. But well done on the win, it was impressive.

POSTED BY
zenboomerang
on | February 14, 2013, 2:04 GMT

Glad the WI's could go home with a win & showed they are great in T20's...

Its been a tough season with mixed up schedules which has taken the gloss off the whole summer... Hopefully CA can get its act together & get some meaning in all these series for both the players & the fans - at present we are all being sold out & cricket will be what suffers most...

POSTED BY
Insult_2_Injury
on | February 14, 2013, 1:42 GMT

Good on the Windies, nice to see a win.
It is an absolute disgrace that the Windies have been disrespected by the Australian Cricket Board by scheduling a match when first choice Oz players are playing a meaningless warm up match in India. If the schedule is that crowded, then this game should not have been played. The Board has also treated the Oz public like idiots all season, by 'resting' in form players. If you pay a weeks wages to take your kids to the scheduled game in your capital city, surely your kids have a right to see the best, in form players represent your country. Makes you think that rotation thing was to cover this T20 selection of nobodies.
Could not believe the Channel 9 commentators (except Nicholas) trying to talk up the 3rd XI that Australia fielded. One muppet said that it was close to normal side! Really? So Warner, Watson, Wade, Starc, Doherty, Maxwell, Johnson wouldn't have anyway? Then that must mean the Sri Lankans were short changed a fortnight ago. A JOKE

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 14, 2013, 1:00 GMT

Well amazingly Windies have won the last 5 consecutive T20s starting from the T20 WC Super 8 win against NZ, semi finals win against Aussies, finals win against SL, win in Bangladesh and yesterday.

This is actually Australia's 5th consecutive T20 loss starting from the T20 WC super 8 loss to Pakistan, then Windies in the semis, 2 to Sri Lanka and this one.

Cant say ODIs and tests are superior to T20s. It all depends on how a team applies its skills for the respective format.

POSTED BY
on | February 14, 2013, 1:00 GMT

I am someone who loves Test Cricket, and loves each format of cricket and frankly speaking get a bit narked when people's opinions are not on an even keel regarding different format of cricket. Test cricket, ODI and t20 they all have their place, t20 is the youngest member of the family and you need skill in t20 as well, just like you need skill in ODI and t20, the skill set is different. Don't bash a format if you don't fancy it, just don't watch it. Test Cricket requires indomitable spirit, powers of endurance and concentration whereas T20 is more about athleticism, big hitting, keeping your nerve and executing plans perfectly for bowlers. Treat each format with respect and don't write it off if your team isn't too great at a particular format- like the Aussies and the English do with t20 and some Indian fans do with test cricket.

POSTED BY
AvmanM
on | February 14, 2013, 1:00 GMT

What is the Aus management up to? This was not a second-string side, this was effectively an Australia C team that would get beaten by the best players from their national academy.

POSTED BY
on | February 14, 2013, 0:26 GMT

when will the 10 overs game come...

POSTED BY
Reuelsean
on | February 13, 2013, 23:52 GMT

While I'm relieved more than anything that we at least won a match, this really isn't anything to be happy about. The team played horribly in Aus, and while every player has to look at himself and take responsibility, the captain's head needs to take a roll here. Sammy has brought the team to the furthest that anyone could have ever expected him too, but its time to move on. And for all the people who act as if it's blaspheme to say anything negative about sammy, please get a grip. He is the captain, he takes the praise when the team does good, so he could take the blame when they do bad as well. Apparently, all u sammy fans, just love being lied too, if you can't look at his stats and be honest with the other cricket fans on cricinfo about his poor records across all formats, both domestically and internationally, then at least be honest with yourselves. Sammy does not have what it takes to play in all three formats. and you know that.

POSTED BY
disco_bob
on | February 13, 2013, 23:50 GMT

Let me get this straight, after 16 years WI have finally won a series in Australia. This is apparently a cause for great celebration even though the format did not exist 16 years ago.

Not only that but the 'series' only consisted of a single T20 slugfest. Therefore by winning the match WI can also boast of a whitewash, having won every single game in the entire series of one match against a team made up of whoever was left over from our serious cricket.

Not to take anything away from WI but it's all a trifle sad.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 23:43 GMT

There seems to be a lot of Windies supporters on this forum who seem to forget that they were playing a third choice Australian 11. Well done to the Windies all the same. Even if it was a very poor quality game against a very poor 3rd Australian team, a win is a win.

POSTED BY
Ozcricketwriter
on | February 13, 2013, 23:12 GMT

West Indies ranked 2nd vs Australia ranked 7th, Australia with 4 debutants who wouldn't legitimately be in the side, and generally having at most 3 (Bailey, McKay and Faulkner) who would legitimately be in the T20 side even - and those 3 should all probably be playing tests anyway. West Indies, already a better side, were only without Samuels from a full strength unit. That Australia got so close was perhaps partially due to the home ground advantage and this statistical fact, that few were aware of, that West Indies hadn't beaten them in any format for any match since 1997. Realistically, West Indies were huge favourites and got home easily. Well done to Adam Voges stepping up and to Faulkner.

POSTED BY
Meety
on | February 13, 2013, 23:11 GMT

@Shaggy076 on (February 13, 2013, 10:36 GMT) - look up McKays ODI stats - they are amongst the best ever for any bowler who has bowled over 1,000 deliveries in ODIs. Hardly anybody rates him, but whilever he has a sub 30 S/Rate he gets my vote! (His E/R is not too shabby either)!

POSTED BY
dunger.bob
on | February 13, 2013, 23:00 GMT

Congrats to the WI team. Once you set that massive total the result was never really in doubt. Charles looks to be a very handy limited overs player and I look forward to seeing more of him in the years to come. .. I thought the Aus. fielding was poor. Dropped catches, misfields and set too deep allowing too many 3's. .. we just don't seem to get this T20 stuff do we. ... anmyway, thanks for the entertainment Windies. It was a pleasure to host you.

POSTED BY
PFEL
on | February 13, 2013, 22:04 GMT

This match was another perfect advertisement for how T20 matches are decided more by luck than by ability and performance. And why on earth there is an article about "ending a 16-year drought" after a 1 off win in a T20 againsts what is at best an Australian 3rd XI is beyond me.

POSTED BY
RandyOZ
on | February 13, 2013, 21:17 GMT

Australia has never cared about T20 cricket, which is why we are the most successful test and ODI nation of all time.

POSTED BY
Blythesville
on | February 13, 2013, 21:08 GMT

The real winner here is India. All the best Australian players are in or were en route to India. The Australian team fielded is sign of diminished respect for the West Indies. The records will show this as a win. But really its a consolation prize.

POSTED BY
Liquefierrrr
on | February 13, 2013, 20:59 GMT

@ rsgarcia - so you make no allowance for the fact that our best playing XI is in India, but you make one for West Indies and their abysmal performance in the ODI's?

Seems unbalanced. Whilst you were missing players we were too.

I'm not here to whine about t20 not mattering or event to dilute the West Indies' victory, we were soundly beaten, but if you are going to talk about missing players here's a few names to consider:

Warner, Watson, Wade, Maxwell, Henriques, Johnson, Starc (the best t20 bowler in the world bar none).

Warner, Watson and Starc would be in any international t20 side (as the first 3 picked) so take that out of any side and it weakens considerably. Then we have the inexperience of 3 debutants in the one game, Cutting playing his 2nd, Faulkner his 3rd.

I'm actually pleased the West Indies got a win and showed their talents, of which they have many, and pleased for Sammy as I like him and think there's more than meets the eye. But c'mon, be fair in your assessment

POSTED BY
smartrah
on | February 13, 2013, 19:34 GMT

Its a big day for WI cricket not because the men won in Australia after 16 years but because the women beat the Aussies for their maiden world cup final.

POSTED BY
rsgarcia
on | February 13, 2013, 19:16 GMT

For those who come here to bash Sammy as being 'no good' for any format but T20, check your stats. Sammy's worst format is T20. He is the #9 all-rounder in Tests and the #8 all-rounder in ODIs. Pretty amazing that's not good enough for those who can't be bothered to get off their refrain about him and Gibson being the worst ever. As for this tour--let's not fool ourselves. We came here without our best team knowing we were looking to see who would put their hand up for the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. We didn't win--big surprise. This is our worst format right now, without a settled team. But we are a force in T20s and our Test side is in way better shape than our ODI side. In other words--we can only get better. The Aussies who are busy wailing about how T20 doesn't matter--wonder if they would have said that if they'd won the game, or the World Cup? Face it--Aussies suck at T20, as would anyone who thinks they're too good for it. Stop whining. T20's not going away anytime soon

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 18:26 GMT

Eww now thats a stat i didnt want to be reminded off! I dont know if this article is encouraging or otherwise to WI. Anyways congrats to WI. I wonder what the b.a. comments would be on wi failure for these many years , cant point pitches can we! Wish we would understand that this is a game and teams win and lose irrespective of anything, not to forget aus was spectacularly exceptional from the late 90s! It wasnt easy to win there.WI is now slowly but surely gelling together as a team with some real good talent playing together as one team(something we missed for almost 20 years :( ) Love to see samuels,gayle,narine,sammy,bravo and others clicking on the same day! Would take a tremendous effort to then stop a WI win then! Go for it WI!

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 18:22 GMT

West Indies Still The Best T20 Team In The World !

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 18:18 GMT

Too easy for West Indies. Even without samuels , badree , rampaul etc. Australia just no contest for them.

POSTED BY
WonkyBail
on | February 13, 2013, 18:13 GMT

T20 is 90% luck with an edged slice often deciding a game, the longer the format the more likely the better team is to win. And how on earth do they work out the rankings- England lost one game and went from 2nd to 6th! If it gets non-cricket fans interested in the game then good, if it detracts from test cricket and even ODI's it may ultimately have a derogatory impact on the game ie. Batsmen who can't bat for long periods and spinners who don't spin it and spectators who have the attention span of a goldfish.

POSTED BY
Arrow011
on | February 13, 2013, 17:13 GMT

Windies boys look stronger than Aussies but dont use brains & lose.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 16:51 GMT

we miss Samuels,his presence may alter the odi results

POSTED BY
kc69
on | February 13, 2013, 16:19 GMT

and thus another team emerges good in T20 and bad in longer formats.Whats happening to cricket???...

POSTED BY
Thriller_Tiger
on | February 13, 2013, 16:13 GMT

Though, WEST INDIES is always good at The sh0rter f0rm of cricket, they need to make them better in longer f0rm and odi...

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 16:13 GMT

It should be like first series win . because West Indies won over Australia in 2009 T20 World cup in England .

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 16:05 GMT

good for westindies my 2nd most favourit team after Pak

POSTED BY
David_Bofinger
on | February 13, 2013, 15:59 GMT

With half the Australian team already playing in India I guess this wasn't a surprise. But maybe it wouldn't have been against a full strength team. Australia has a problem with death bowling in ODIs, and of course T20 is all death bowling.

POSTED BY
KingofRedLions
on | February 13, 2013, 15:57 GMT

The Windies are not in a position to drop Sammy from the captaincy.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | February 13, 2013, 15:52 GMT

It is glad to see the Windies win at last. However, it is extremely clear that they have many areas to address in the ODI and test format indeed. As a Lankan, I have to say that Windies are my 2nd favorite team after Sri Lanka. Windies had their moments in the ODIs barring the 1st ODI of course, but they just could not capitalize on the advantage. Australia's mental toughness proved to be the key difference between the 2 teams in the ODIs.

Fact here is that the longer the game goes, the team's weaknesses get exposed. So I am sure that if today was a 50 over match, Aussies would have been the likely winners. Well played Windies and no wonder you all are the T20 champions.

To Sammy my favorite cricketer of all, please target an improvement in the other 2 formats.

For the Aussies, congratulations for the ODI triumph. Hope to meet you all again in the Champions trophy in England later this year and of course good luck in the tour of India.

POSTED BY
SamRoy
on | February 13, 2013, 15:40 GMT

@VEXXZ You have hit the nail on the head mate! Sammy perfect for T20s, good enough for ODIs but not good enough for tests.

POSTED BY
VEXXZ
on | February 13, 2013, 15:25 GMT

When ever any one make a comment on SAMMY , most persons are under the impression that "we hate Sammy", when in truth and in fact , we do not . Most of us think that he is not good enough to play in all 3 formats of the game . For sure he fits in the 20/20 and may be the 50 game , but for sure NOT the TEST. I will agree that the GIBSON /SAMMY duo brought back some sanity to the Caribbean , but it seems like we came to a spot and reach a road block with no way out . Its time to FIX IT.

POSTED BY
adkum
on | February 13, 2013, 15:22 GMT

Congrats to the WI on a deserved win. My fear has always been that whenever WI wins it strengthens the folly of retaining Sammy. In all our victories what role did Sammy play. It is time to say thanks Sammy and just move on. It is falsely said that he did a good job of molding the team. But if one examines that it is not really true as the team has changed composition so many times. No one player has really been there consistently. We change players like we change clothes. So is it Sammy or is it just we have good talent. One of the best things happened for WI cricket when Hillaire and Hunte departed. Now it is time to finish off the insularity and get rid of their buddy Sammy. It is a shame that the board renewed Gibson's contract for another term. Let's see who he is going to frustrate next.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 15:20 GMT

Glad to see the W.I boys doing well today. I dont understand all the nonsense above about a 2nd string Aussie side. You Aussies need to wake up and get a life, you cannot win all games and FYI you guys are no longer ranked # 1 for nothing except self praise.

POSTED BY
kriketluva
on | February 13, 2013, 15:20 GMT

Thankfully Sarwan appears to have finished his playing days for the WI and Gayle will soon join him. I am the biggest WI fan and though those two used to have talent they have wasted it by being mediocre.

um, how did they end a 16 year drought? t20 cricket has been going for less than 10 years?

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 14:20 GMT

T20 is nothing to compare to 50 overs and test standard ,WI struggling both from of the game as where Austraila is ! Aussie is hopeless in T20 ,was never going to win with 2 or 4th strings of players ,it will be very interesting when Austraila faces India soon, I'll be very surprise if Austraila win on a spinning wicket , just have to wait and see !

POSTED BY
bigwonder
on | February 13, 2013, 14:20 GMT

It was good win by WI. They needed it badly. @David Brumby, a game is a game and format does not matter. If you are looking for tests, you will have to wait till time travel is invented cause you will have to go back to 70s and 80s for that. Remember Darwin's Theory Of Evolution?

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 14:11 GMT

well done wi now to build on that , now for zimbawe and pakistan we have to get our bowlingright try and introduce new pace bowlers a left hander would be handy
learn from australia but i still think gibson and sammy are doing a good job .

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 14:10 GMT

West Indies still the Best T20 Team in the World !

POSTED BY
gsingh7
on | February 13, 2013, 14:09 GMT

aus touch new lows in t20 , after getting thrashed by same wi in sl they get thrashed infront of home crowd, the slide continues

POSTED BY
Fourworldcups
on | February 13, 2013, 14:05 GMT

@ electric loco- there is no 2nd game.

POSTED BY
janoodot
on | February 13, 2013, 13:37 GMT

Congrats WIndies!!!
from SL

POSTED BY
electric_loco_WAP4
on | February 13, 2013, 13:25 GMT

Ooh ! so WI win a game at last....against a 4th string Aus side ..... so much for the
reigning world champs...LOL . Let's see if this Aus team sends the show ponies T20
hit 'n' giggle superstars with a huge 1 win from the whole Aus tour after a reversal in
the 2nd game and a sound thrashing from 4th string Aus...

POSTED BY
Edwards_Anderson
on | February 13, 2013, 13:07 GMT

In the end, it wasn't as close as Australia would have liked, thanks specially to the two run-outs. Adam Voges was going well for them but some poor running broke the middle-order back. Bailey was dissapointing and so was Marsh. Pollard bowled well under pressure. This was WI first win in Australia in 16 years, long drought.

POSTED BY
Rally_Windies
on | February 13, 2013, 12:54 GMT

amazing,

the second string WI beat the second string Oz .....

will I get to see the 1st String WI team ? ever ? again ?

lets see who picks a 20/20 team with a specialist keeper who bats at 9 ?
and truth be told ,,,, Narine and Tino should really be batting ahead of Thomas , so he should really be batting at 11 .....

why is the 4th or 5ht best keeper in the WI, getting a steady try on the team ?
back home Nikita Miller continues to the best spinner in the region (in longer formats) 6th year in a row running ....

Bet you Shilly and Benn will get Test calls before Nikita ..

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | February 13, 2013, 12:53 GMT

mar2000,

You clearly haven't been watching much West Indies test cricket over the past year or two. Great strides have been taken in the REAL format of the game.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 12:52 GMT

Atleast we won a match. Seems the longer the format the worse we do. Good to see we won even without t20 players Samuels and Badree who were key in the the title last year.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 12:44 GMT

Who cares less about 20/20. Once again a game showing lack of ability means zero and nothing but edges every second ball. Rubbish game. Where are the test matches.

POSTED BY
VEXXZ
on | February 13, 2013, 12:37 GMT

WI still KING in the 20/20 format but when will we be able to think pass the limited over game .We just cannot focus for 50 overs even tho we change players and switch and chop . The present TEST squad is an embarrassment to the Caribbean due to the performance put in down under .This is a clear reflection of the standard of Cricket in the Caribbean despite all of the COACHES we have through out the various Islands . A large section of youngsters from under 13 , under 15 , under 19 are being coached day in day out and yet we cannot come up with 11 good cricketers . Are we playing not enough cricket , or are the youngsters burn-out from early .

POSTED BY
Smiley1
on | February 13, 2013, 12:31 GMT

Why isn't anybody mentioning that Australia has just played two games at the same time, in different countries and won neither. We just don't have the depth. And which game is the coach and staff at?? I can't believe CA have allowed this debacle to take place!! It does no good for our T20 rankings and not much good for the guys in India, when its a warm for the all important test series. Why aren't people asking questions about this??

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 12:30 GMT

T20 is the great satan. In 20 years it will devour and kill off all other forms of the game, and will eventually kill the game itself.

POSTED BY
Jayzuz
on | February 13, 2013, 12:26 GMT

A typical T20 match, it seems. Lots of slogging and edges and mishits going for four and six, bad shots falling in between fielders again and again (for the WI). And as usual the team with the most luck wins. I can see why Australia is prepared to sacrifice this form of the game for results in other formats. Still, it was entertaining in its own way, the half that I saw. But I won't waste my money to attend a game live again. I watched the WI innings, but not the AUS innings - on TV. I figured there was no way Australia could have that much luck in one day. The other thing is that it was a team (WI) vs a group of players pulled together for a game. Every time Australia does this, they lose. I hope the message is as obvious to selectors as it is to everyone else.

POSTED BY
mar2000
on | February 13, 2013, 12:17 GMT

Good win for WI , but it seems that WI players just cannot think pass 20 overs.

POSTED BY
mandela007
on | February 13, 2013, 12:11 GMT

That was toooo easy.. Well done Sammy and company. Must give special mention to Charles, Pollard, and Narine.. You 3 were superb. Even though we didnt beat Aust full strength team, we didnt play with ours 2night either.

POSTED BY
dan1234
on | February 13, 2013, 11:20 GMT

The umpire didn't initially go up stairs for the Marsh run-out. Someone mentioned it to him that the replay showed him short, so THEN he went to the third umpire. If a batsmen is caught LBW or nicks it behind and the umpire gives it not out, too bad if the replays show otherwise. He was short, given not out initially, should've stayed that way.

POSTED BY
VivGilchrist
on | February 13, 2013, 11:17 GMT

Marsh takes too long to get going. Unless he gets a big score he is a liability. You wouldve thought Aus were chasing 125 the way he was batting. More importantly.... When does the first Test start?

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 13, 2013, 11:07 GMT

Mervo ; Because of there domestic form. However Quiney 2 tests is barley a dream run. Ok Finch has been found short but his domestic limited over form has no peer.

POSTED BY
Mervo
on | February 13, 2013, 10:46 GMT

Why are Finch and Quiney given such a dream run when they never reach double figures?

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 13, 2013, 10:36 GMT

Im not sure Cutting and Coulter-Nile are that great of prospects for the one-day game and T20. I see they have good pace, bowl back of length but just dont have the ability to bowl yorkers. They could be good test prospects down the track but unfortunately for them we have a lot of very good bowlers at the moment. I also dont get why Mckay is one-day player of the year, he can mix up the pace but bowls the same hit me length over and over. Hazlewood showed some potential but to develop in T20 we need guys that can bowl yorkers and I think it would have been a lot better to select Kane Richardson.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 10:15 GMT

ICC has to crack down on Edge size on Bats, Its getting funny seeing edges flying for Six, Skill? well let you decide

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 10:09 GMT

Australia choosing to play the T20 at the ground with the biggest boundaries was a clever tactic as they're a lot happier to chase a lower score running 2's and 3's where as West Indies strength is boundary hitting, I think the Oz boys will take this 1 good contest either way.

POSTED BY
PFEL
on | February 13, 2013, 9:47 GMT

West Indies are really showing their incredible luck again! amazing how everything can go your way, edges to fine leg, skied balls always finding the gaps, top edge over keeper's head for 6 . . . IMO it's karma for Australia picking a 4th choice team

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 9:23 GMT

@Elvin they're not going to send another side out for 1 t20 game otherwise Badree for one would be there for example.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 9:02 GMT

have you noticed that this WI team is exactly the same team as the one who lost the odi series 5-0 ?

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 8:45 GMT

W.I should have played Powell instead of Deonarine I would of liked to see him open he has shots all around the gorund great technique and power

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | February 13, 2013, 8:42 GMT

Haddin still dropping regulation catches off medium pace bowlers. Where are all those one eyed NSW fans calling for his recall to the test team?

POSTED BY
Meety
on | February 13, 2013, 23:09 GMT

First up, well done WIndies (men & women) - LOL! The men's team thoroughly deserved their win as they had the better VARIETY in the bowling line up. I am not a fan of bailey's place in the T20 team, but I will not bag him for this loss, his hands were tied. Interestingly - Faulkner's left hand variety was the most succesful in the match for Oz. I WONDER what an actual spinner would of achieved? Even DHussey batting @ #7 would of been some sort of an option for Bailey, (assuming Voges's injury prevented him bowling a ball). The things that annoy me about T20 was evident in this game. I was happy Charles is developing some status in the WIndies team, but that was one of the luckiest 50s I have ever seen. The WIndies could of been 5/70 after 10 overs, but they made the most of their opportunities. Then there was S Marsh, came into the game with some form, but really he failed on what was supposed to be a good batting pitch - with a S/Rate below 110. Enough!

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | February 13, 2013, 8:42 GMT

Haddin still dropping regulation catches off medium pace bowlers. Where are all those one eyed NSW fans calling for his recall to the test team?

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 8:45 GMT

W.I should have played Powell instead of Deonarine I would of liked to see him open he has shots all around the gorund great technique and power

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 9:02 GMT

have you noticed that this WI team is exactly the same team as the one who lost the odi series 5-0 ?

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 9:23 GMT

@Elvin they're not going to send another side out for 1 t20 game otherwise Badree for one would be there for example.

POSTED BY
PFEL
on | February 13, 2013, 9:47 GMT

West Indies are really showing their incredible luck again! amazing how everything can go your way, edges to fine leg, skied balls always finding the gaps, top edge over keeper's head for 6 . . . IMO it's karma for Australia picking a 4th choice team

POSTED BY
BRUTALANALYST
on | February 13, 2013, 10:09 GMT

Australia choosing to play the T20 at the ground with the biggest boundaries was a clever tactic as they're a lot happier to chase a lower score running 2's and 3's where as West Indies strength is boundary hitting, I think the Oz boys will take this 1 good contest either way.

POSTED BY
on | February 13, 2013, 10:15 GMT

ICC has to crack down on Edge size on Bats, Its getting funny seeing edges flying for Six, Skill? well let you decide

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 13, 2013, 10:36 GMT

Im not sure Cutting and Coulter-Nile are that great of prospects for the one-day game and T20. I see they have good pace, bowl back of length but just dont have the ability to bowl yorkers. They could be good test prospects down the track but unfortunately for them we have a lot of very good bowlers at the moment. I also dont get why Mckay is one-day player of the year, he can mix up the pace but bowls the same hit me length over and over. Hazlewood showed some potential but to develop in T20 we need guys that can bowl yorkers and I think it would have been a lot better to select Kane Richardson.

POSTED BY
Mervo
on | February 13, 2013, 10:46 GMT

Why are Finch and Quiney given such a dream run when they never reach double figures?

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | February 13, 2013, 11:07 GMT

Mervo ; Because of there domestic form. However Quiney 2 tests is barley a dream run. Ok Finch has been found short but his domestic limited over form has no peer.